Chapter Seventy-Five – Regarding the Matter of Abducting Daughters

“Meng Xiaolou, what do you mean? Is my Chen State incapable of taking care of a child?” Ao Guanghan challenged.

Meng Xiaolou retorted, “Your Dragon City is crowded and full of prying eyes. There’s already bad blood with Yin State. Wei State would be much more peaceful.”

Tension crackled between the two men. Nan Yan, recovering from her confused thoughts, began to quietly inch backward, not daring to make a sound.

Ao Guanghan sneered, “That frozen wasteland of yours is barely inhabited. What’s so good about it? I’ll take responsibility for raising this child. You can leave now.”

Nan Yan thought to herself, “I’m already grown up and healthy.”

Meng Xiaolou angrily replied, “I don’t believe you’ll treat Rao Niang’s descendant well. If you weren’t so overbearing, why would Rao Niang refuse to seek help from anyone and bear those burdens alone?”

Ao Guanghan: “And your forceful attempt to elope with her was any better?”

Meng Xiaolou: “At least Rao Niang was willing to go with me!”

Ao Guanghan: “We argued for hundreds of years. Do you think she could settle down and live in seclusion with someone? You must be dreaming.”

“You argued for hundreds of years and still won’t leave her descendants alone? This child has finally made it to the upper realm. Should she continue to endure your stubborn temper?” Meng Xiaolou turned to Nan Yan, his expression softening, and asked, “Child, what’s your spiritual root?”

Nan Yan: “… Five-element root.”

Ao Guanghan stared at Nan Yan, seeming to go through some internal struggle, then suddenly felt he had an advantage over Meng Xiaolou. He said, “I have four variant spiritual roots: wind, thunder, ice, and magnetism. Nan Rao had a single fire root. If you add them up…”

Meng Xiaolou interrupted, “I really can’t stand you. When that imperial son first arrived in Chen State, you once thought he was Rao Niang’s descendant because of his single fire root. If the clan elders hadn’t stopped you, you would have changed his surname by now.”

“The Blood Phoenix Hairpin brought him to Chen State, so he should be one of us. He should have changed his surname anyway!” Ao Guanghan retorted.

“Hmph, so the betrothal gifts were returned after all.”

“Interesting. As if your precious sword sheath didn’t end up in Wei State.”

Nan Yan: “…”

As they argued, they finally noticed Nan Yan’s strange look.

Unable to process all this information, Nan Yan asked fearfully, “My mother… did she disappoint many people back then?”

Ao Guanghan and Meng Xiaolou glared at each other, their spiritual consciousness warning each other:

“What are you saying in front of a child?”

“You brought it up first…”

After a long silence, Ao Guanghan spoke first: “Let’s not discuss this further. We invited you to listen in hopes of a face-to-face confrontation. Since that person has his plans, your safety naturally takes priority. As for Nan Rao… do you know your mother had a special heart?”

Nan Yan replied solemnly, “I heard from my uncle that it was a phoenix heart obtained by the Red Emperor after slaying a true phoenix. It was refined into a demon heart that could allow my mother’s primordial spirit to be reborn.”

“The ancient true phoenix was not of this realm, with a level close to that of a demon god. The Red Emperor’s battle with it, killing a god and taking its heart, shook the world. Later, he injected the true phoenix’s blood into a phoenix demon egg of this realm, nurturing a companion phoenix for Nan Rao. This phoenix grew up with Nan Rao and was extremely sensitive to the aura of the Red Emperor’s demon heart,” Ao Guanghan explained gravely. “I’ve asked the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace many times to borrow this phoenix, but Cloud Empress Dowager always refused. It wasn’t until Nan Yi returned and discovered a mysterious restriction from Dao Sheng Tian on the phoenix, preventing it from leaving the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace, that I became certain this matter was related to Dao Sheng Tian.”

No wonder the Phoenix Lord was so intelligent and protective of her at the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace… It must have known that Cloud Empress Dowager had reached some agreement with Dao Sheng Tian.

Some fragmented clues finally connected, and Nan Yan realized that Ji Yang’s every analysis and guess had been correct.

“I don’t know the whereabouts of this Red Emperor’s demon heart. I only know that as far back as I can remember, my mother had a heart condition,” Nan Yan said, pressing her forehead as she recalled. “She usually seemed no different from others, even healthier. But several times when I woke up in the middle of the night and went to find her, I couldn’t wake her no matter how much I shook her. She would only recover the next morning. Thinking about it now, my mother must have already lost this life-saving heart by then.”

… She was alone in the mortal realm, enduring the pain of losing her heart, raising a child, and struggling to survive for years before dying.

The two men opened their mouths as if wanting to say something, but felt only frustration and anger, unable to express themselves.

“Did she ever tell you who killed her before she died?” Meng Xiaolou asked.

Nan Yan shook her head. She only remembered her mother’s last words, promising to always be by her side.

Nan Yan desperately hoped that Nan Rao, with her great powers, had placed her last hope of survival in her daughter. But there had been no sign of this… Perhaps Nan Rao simply meant that she had friends all over the world who would be willing to take care of her daughter.

“Then the situation is clear. Either Ying Zewei or the demon in the sealed area of the mortal realm must be the true culprit,” Meng Xiaolou said coldly. “I didn’t draw my sword out of consideration for our past friendship as fellow cultivators, giving him some leeway. If it’s proven that he did it, once I’ve settled the affairs in my State, I’ll issue a challenge.”

He then turned to Nan Yan and said, “Chen State’s situation is complicated, and those people have many tricks. They’ll find out about you sooner or later. Why not come back to Wei State with me?”

Nan Yan lowered her eyes and replied, “I appreciate your kindness, senior, but with my uncle here, I’m not without support.”

Meng Xiaolou frowned and said, “Nan Yi has suffered great changes and his mental state is in ruins. Who knows what schemes await him? I don’t recommend staying by his side, but I won’t force you. I’ll wait here for three days. You can come find me anytime within these three days—”

Before he could finish, Nan Yan suddenly felt a massive spiritual force accompanied by a dragon’s roar erupting from behind her, blasting Meng Xiaolou out of the Dragon Court’s grand hall.

Meng Xiaolou’s furious voice came from outside, “Ao Guanghan! You dare use the Dragon Court’s royal cauldron to suppress me!”

Ao Guanghan retorted, “My State is in chaos. No need to wait three days. I can’t afford to keep you. Get lost.”

Nan Yan: “…”

The commotion outside continued for a while before subsiding. Nan Yan kept her head down, cold sweat streaming down her face, fearing she might be thrown out too. After a while, she mustered the courage to look up at the Dragon Lord.

Ao Guanghan, who usually had a stern expression for everyone, now seemed unsure of how to face Nan Yan. After a long silence, he said softly, “I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a proper explanation.”

Nan Yan shook her head, “This isn’t the Dragon Lord’s responsibility. I’m already very grateful for all the help I’ve received.”

Ao Guanghan continued, “About your mother… I know you might have heard those rumors, but what outsiders say isn’t reliable. In my view, she didn’t disappoint anyone. She was just… a kind person without a care in the world.”

Nan Yan looked at the Dragon Lord in surprise. His time with her mother was longer than anyone else’s. Although they couldn’t stay together in the end, they had at least known each other well.

Ao Guanghan chose his words carefully and added, “… So, don’t think less of her because of anyone’s slander.”

Was he… speaking well of her mother?

Nan Yan felt a warmth in her heart, suddenly feeling that the Dragon Lord wasn’t as fierce and domineering as the rumors claimed.

“My mother always treated me well. If… if I can never find my birth father, would the Dragon Lord be willing to be my—”

“BOOM!”

Dragon Lord Ao Guanghan listened to Nan Yan’s words, initially thinking he had unexpectedly gained a daughter. Suddenly, a loud explosion from the rear hall interrupted them. Suppressing his impatience, he asked, “What were you saying just now?”

Nan Yan replied sheepishly, “Well, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind… I’d like to call you—”

“Mother!”

Ao Guanghan was left speechless.

A thick, acrid smoke billowed from the rear hall as if an alchemical furnace had exploded. Mu Zhanting emerged, his face covered in soot, carrying a violently shaking furnace with a glowing red lid. He excitedly brought it to the front hall.

“Dragon Lord, I’ve just refined another batch of pills using the Great Sun Fire Essence. It knocked out three Nascent Soul elders! I think we could use these at Qitian Plains. How about calling them ‘Death to Demonic Cultivators’ pills?”

Ao Guanghan remained expressionless as he turned to Nan Yan. “You should return to Mockingbird Tower and rest for now.”

Mu Zhanting looked confused.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Nan Yan thought to herself, “Good luck, brother,” and swiftly took her leave. As she exited the main hall, a scream a hundred times more agonizing than before echoed from within.

“The Dragon Lord of Chen State truly lives up to his reputation for ruthlessness,” Nan Yan mused.

The next morning, outside Mockingbird Tower, a procession of palace maids arrived carrying incense and purifying water. They lined up on both sides of the room and gently inquired, “Miss Nan, have you finished your meditation?”

Nan Yan had visited her uncle until nightfall the previous day. The dragon court’s physicians said Nan Yi needed to temporarily nurture his mental state with secret techniques to avoid being easily swayed. Only after ensuring he was alright did Nan Yan return to Mockingbird Tower.

This time, she had gathered valuable intelligence. Thanks to her Buddhist cultivation, her mental state remained stable, preventing her from being manipulated by that person’s words. After a night of self-reflection, she had regained her composure.

“Please come in,” she called out.

The maids entered, opening windows and hanging lamps. One placed a basin of clear water beside Nan Yan for her to wash her hands.

Nan Yan, having been pampered like a princess lately, noticed that even the slight calluses on her hands from years of fingering prayer beads had disappeared. Her hands were now soft and pale, transforming the once formidable Blood-Handed Guanyin into a delicate-handed one. Sometimes, she felt a twinge of guilt looking at her own hands.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, “I heard the Dragon Lord say that due to the battle at Qitian Plains, Chen State’s expenses have increased significantly…”

“Miss Nan, you needn’t worry. The accommodations here at Mockingbird Tower are merely standard hospitality. The Dragon Lord said that you’re family now. Even the treasures in the imperial vault are yours to choose from if you like.”

Nan Yan repeatedly declined, feeling embarrassed after the maids finished attending to her. “I’ve been imposing on you for days as an outsider. May I ask if any cultivators in the dragon capital have returned from the Qitian Plains frontline… affected by demonic cultivators’ techniques?”

She explained that demonic cultivation methods were particularly troublesome for righteous cultivators, especially the infamous corpse poison techniques from Si State. Once infected, low-level cultivators risked turning into corpses. The best solution was to seek help from Buddhist cultivators to remove the poison.

A nearby maid’s eyes lit up. “There are some, but Miss Nan, you’re an honored guest. Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?”

Another maid chimed in, “Sister Xu Rui’s father was hit by a corpse poison arrow in a vital point. Miss Nan is a Golden Core Buddhist cultivator. If she’s willing to help, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

“I can disguise myself,” Nan Yan offered. “If there’s any way I can help, please take me there.”

The maid named Xu Rui expressed her gratitude profusely. Within the time it took to burn a stick of incense, she led Nan Yan out of Mockingbird Tower.

The dragon capital was vast. Besides areas occupied by cultivators, there was a designated military city divided into three guards. The Dragon Lion Guard was led by Mu Zhanting. When Nan Yan arrived, over ten airships hovered in the sky, continuously offloading severely injured cultivators to various medical facilities.

“Miss, this way,” Xu Rui guided Nan Yan to a place where Foundation Establishment cultivators were being treated. As soon as they entered, Nan Yan detected the faint smell of corpse poison. From a room sealed with restrictive talismans came the sound of a cultivator, driven mad by corpse transformation, violently thrashing about.

Xu Rui’s face twisted with hatred. “Recently, the Shen Guan Sect joined the battle. While not many of our cultivators have died, most of the wounded are infected with corpse poison, suffering a fate worse than death. Buddhist cultivators from Mao State have come to assist, but it’s easier to get infected than to purge the poison…”

Nan Yan nodded, reaching out to grab a wisp of greenish-black mist from the air. With a slight exertion of force, the mist instantly vanished.

“Indeed, the Seven Buddha Karma Scripture is supremely effective against evil,” she thought.

Soon, Xu Rui used her jade token to open a room. Inside lay an elderly man with a greenish complexion, his cultivation level around the late Foundation Establishment. Nan Yan noticed his exposed hands, where his nails were turning black and growing longer, indicating the onset of corpse transformation.

“Miss, this is my father,” Xu Rui said, her eyes welling up with tears.

“Very well, I’ll give it a try,” Nan Yan replied. Having faced cultivators from the Shen Guan Sect in Fanzhou before, she scanned the transforming elder with her divine sense, locating the corpse poison concentrated in his chest. She pointed from a distance, and a golden lotus blossomed from her fingertip, slowly floating toward the elder’s chest.

This golden lotus, formed from Buddhist power, had a hint of blood color in its center. As it entered the elder’s chest, his eyes suddenly snapped open, and he began to howl.

“Kill… Kill!”

“Father!” Xu Rui cried out in shock.

Simultaneously, Nan Yan multitasked, her left hand conjuring Buddhist script chains to restrain the elder. Soon, a burning smell emanated from his body.

Although frightened, Xu Rui could see that the corpse energy around her father was rapidly diminishing. As the last wisp of corpse energy burned away, the elder’s elongated greenish-black nails immediately cracked and fell off, and his complexion returned to normal.

Seeing her technique work, Nan Yan said, “The corpse energy has been purged. With some medicine and a few months of recovery, he’ll be fine.”

As Xu Rui repeatedly expressed her gratitude, a female voice suddenly exclaimed from the wide-open door behind them:

“Fellow Daoist Xu was injured by a Golden Core corpse cultivator. We thought only a Nascent Soul Buddhist cultivator could save him. This senior is truly impressive!”

Nan Yan turned around, startled to see none other than Meng Ying, her former sect sister from Fanzhou who had also traveled to the upper realms on the whaleship.